Water-softening apparatus



March 4, 1930;

c. YOUNT WATER SOFTENING APPARATUS EiledMarch 8. 1928 3 SheetsSheet 2 MIL [N702 A/Il-PENCE B. YOUNZ' 4770/?NEX March 4, 1930. 1 c. B. YOUNT WATER SOFTENING AP PARATUS Filed March 8, 19 28 1 Afro/mm.

Patented Mar. 4, 1930 CLARENCE B. YOUNT, OF NEAR DAYTON, OHIO WATER-SOFTENING APPARATUS Application filed March 8, 1928. Serial No, 259,983.

This invention relates to a water softening apparatus and more'particularly to that type of softening apparatus in which the softening material has the property of exchanging its normal sodium base for the substances which harden the water, such as magnesium or calcium. In such a device the softening material gradually loses its efficiency so that in the course of time itno longer properly softens the water. It is then necessary to recondition the material, which is accomplished by subjecting the same to the action of a. regenerating solution, such as brine, to displace the substances which have been taken up from the hard water and to restore the normal sodium base. After the softening material hasbeen subjected to the action of the brine for a "length of time sufficient to restore its base fresh. water is passed through the softening material to wash out the brine and sediment. Various apparatuses have been provided for controlling this reconditioning operation. Some of these apparatuses are hand con- 0 trolled and in such a hand controlled device. it is necessary to operate a-series of valves in proper sequence and,.further, it is necessary that the operator should be constantly or frequently in attendance to operate the proper valves at the proper times. Other controlling apparatus is automatic in its operation but the automatimmechanisms are expensive to produce and require more or less attention to maintain them in pro-per operative condition. One object of the present invention is to provide a water softening apparatus which will be verysimple in its construction and operation and which can beoperated with a 40 minimum of attention on the part of the user.

i A further obj ect of the'invention is to provide such an apparatus in which the mechanisms for controlling the reconditioning of the softening material will be set in operation 5 manually but after its operation has been initiated it will be automatically controlled and.

no further attendance on the part .of the user will be required.

A further object of the invention is to provide inia water softening apparatus an improved means for generating brine and delivering the same to the softener.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the apparatus is described in detail.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through an apparatus embodying my invention and showing the valve controlling-mechanism in elevation; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View taken centrally through the controlling mechanism; Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the valve controlling mechanism, partly broken away; Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the water softener showing a modified form of valve controlling mechanism; and Fig. 5 is a sectional detail View of the hydraulic valve forming part of the controlling mechanism.

In these drawings I have illustrated two embodiments of my invention but it will be understood that these have been chosen for the purpose of illustration only and that the mechanism may take various forms without departing from the spirit of the invention.

As illustrated in these drawings the controlling mechanisms of the two forms of the device are substantially the same with the exception of the means for operating the valve which controls the delivery of water'to the brine receptacle. In each form of the apparatus the softener comprises a tank 1 adapted to contain a bed of water softening material 2. A hard water supply pipe 3 leads to the bottom of the tank 1 and an outlet pipe 4 leads from the upper end of the tank and may, if desired, be provided at its inner end with a screen 5 to prevent the softening material from being carried into the outlet pipe. Connected with the outlet pipe is a service pipe 5 which leads to the soft water distributingsystem and which may, if desired, be provided with a check valve 6 to prevent the back flow of the water in the service pipe. Also leading from'the outlet pipe 4 is a drain pipe 7 which is controlled by a valve 8. When the valve& is closed the water which enters thebottom of the container from the pipe 3, under pressure, will pass through the softening material andbe discharged through the pipe 5. When the valve 8 is open the liquid entering the container will pass through the as shown inFig. 1, I have provided a salt rec'eptacle 9 which is open at its upper end and which may be supported on a bracket 10 carried by the container. the hard water supply pipe 3 to the salt re- .ceptacle 9 and is controlled by a valve 12 interposed therein. Leading from the brine receptacle 9 is a discharge pipe 13 which is connected with an injector 14 interposed in the hard water supply pipe 3. The discharge pipe 13 is preferably provided with a check valve 15 to prevent water passing through the same from the supply pipe to the brine tank, and the discharge pipe is preferably of a greater capacity than the delivery pipe 11.

level of the liquid therein. 7

The valve 12 in the pipe 11 which delivers In operation a desired quantity of salt is deposited in the brine tank and the valve 12 opened to permit the delivery of water to the brine tank. The suction created in the discharge pi e 13 by the injector 14 will draw the brine min the tank 9 as fast as it is generated therein and because of its larger capacity will'p'revent the water or brine ac cumulating in the tank to such an extent that it would overflow. In this manner I am enabled to use an open tank without controlling devices of any kind to control the water to the brine tank is preferably controlled by the drain valve 8 and the valve 8 is manually operated, thus by opening the valve 8 the reconditioning operation is initiated and brine'will be delivered from the tank 9. to the container 1 untilthe salt in the tank 9 has been exhausted and thereafter fresh water will pass through the container, to wash out the brine, until the drain valve has been again closed, which also causes'the valve '12 inthe delivery pipe 11 to be closed.

Means are provided for automatically closing the valve 8 after a predetermined in terval sufiicient to permit of the discharge of all the brine from the tank 9 and the proper washing out of'the container 1. In thepresent mechanism the operation of the valve v8 is timed in accordance with the quantity of liquid passing through the drain pipe.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the valve 8 comprises a casing-16 and a valve member 17 which is movedtowa'rd its closed position by a spring 18. The position ofthe valve member is controlled by a stem 19 which extends forwardly from the valve casing. In this particular arrangement of themechanism the pipe 11, which delivers water to the brine tank, islocated alongsideof the drain A pipe 11 leads from pipe so that the valve 12 therein may be positioned adjacent to the valve 8. The valve 12 is similar in construction to the valve 8 and its spring pressed valve member is eontrolled by a valve stem 20 arranged parallel with the stem'19 of the valve 8. The valve 12 is controlled by the operation of the valve 8 and to this end I have connected the valve stems 19 and 20 with a cross bar 21 which is engaged by the lower end of a manually operated lever 22, by means of which the two valves may be simultaneously opened. After the valves have been opened they are locked in their open positionsby suitable detents and, in'the construction here shown, these detents are in the form of arms 23 pivotally mounted ona bracket 24 connected with the valve casings and have depending portions or arms 25 which are acted upon by a spring 26 which tends to move said depending portions one toward the other. When the valves wardly extending parts or arms 25 is an oblongcam 27 carried by a shaft 28 and connected with a motor, here shown as a Pelton wheel 29, the casing 30 of which is interposed in the drain pipe 7 beyond the valve 8, s0 that the liquid passing through the drain pipe will. actuat'e'the motor at a speed corresponding'to the.volume of liquid passing through the drain pipe. The speed of the rotation of the motor must, of course, be materially reduced between the Pelton wheel and the cam and, as here shown, the Pelton wheel is mounted on a shaft 31 which is separate from the cam shaft 28 and the two shafts are connected by suitable reducing gearing 32. It will be apparent, therefore, that as the brine and wash water pass. through the container 1 and the drain pipe 7 the motor will slowly turn the cam 27 and when this cam has reached an approximately horizontal position the detent arms 23 willbe moved out of line with the valve stems 19 and 20 and the valves will be closed by the action of the respective springs. The reducing gearing 32 is of such a ratio, as to provide a proper interval of time between the opening and closing of the valves.

In order that the cam ma be restored to its normal or vertical position when the valves are closed I have mounted the same on the shaft 28 for both rotatory and sliding movement and have secured to the cam a clutch member 33 which cooperates with a clutch member 34 rigidly secured to the shaft. A light spring 35 is coiled about the shaft 28 between the cam and the outer bearing for theshaft 28 and tends to hold the clutch members normally in operative engagement. This spring is also connected'at its outer end with a stud 36 and at its inner end with'a stud 37 on the cam, the arrangement of the spring being such that when the cam is moved m an operative direction the spring will be wound about the shaft and placed under tension. The clutch member 33 is actuated to disconnect the clutch members by means of a yoke 38 carried by a bar 39 which is rigidly secured to, and may, if desired, be integral with, the cross bar 21. Consequently when the valves 8 and 12 are closed and the cross bar 21 moved outwardly the clutch member 33 will ,be disconnected from the clutch member 34 and the cam will be rotated by the spring 35 to a vertical position, in which position its movement is checked by means of a pin 40 carried by the cam and engaging the'bar 39. When the lever 22 is actuated to open the valves the clutch member 33 will be released and will be moved by the spring 35 into engagement with the clutch member 34, thus again connecting the cam with the motor.

In that form of the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the brine tank is shown at 41 and is an open tank as above described. The pipe 42 which delivers water from the hard water supply pipe 3 to the brine tank has interposed therein a hydraulic valve 43 the operation of which is controlled by the pressure in the drain pipe 7 in advance of the valve 8. As here shown, the hydraulic valve 43 comprises a casing divided by a diaphragm 44 into upper andlower compartments, thelower compartment having an inlet port 45 with which is connected that part of thepipe 42 which leads from the supply pipe 3. Leading from the side wall of this lower compartment is the upper portion of the pipe 42 which leads into the brine tank. The diaphragm carries a valve member 46 adapted to engage the inner end of the inlet port 45 and interrupt the flow of water through the pipe 42. A pressure pipe 47 leads from the casing on the upper side of the diaphragm to the drain pipe in advance of the valve 8, thus when the drain valve is closed the diaphragm will be'subjected to pressure which will hold the valve 46 on its seat. When the drain valve is opened this pressure will be relieved and the water pressure in the pipe 42 will open the valve 46. If desired, that portion of the pipe 42 which extends into the brine tank may be provided with a valve 48 which is controlled by a float 49 to regulate the admission of water to the brine tank. Thepipe 50 whiclrleads from the brine, tank tothe injector 14 extends through the bottom of the brine tank and is provided at'its inner end with a screen 51 to prevent undissolved salt from entering the same. K v

The valve 8 is controlled in the same manher as above described, there being no change in the mechanism for controlling this valve other than the elimination of the means for controlling the valve 12.

It will be apparent, therefore, that with either form of the device the drain valve is opened manually and closed automatically after a predetermined interval, and that the opening and closing of this valve controls the opening and closing of the valve in the pipe which delivers water to the brine tank, thus causingbrine to be generated and delivered to the container so long as there is a supply of salt in the brine tank and when this supply of salt is exhausted the water will continue to pass through the brine tank while wash water is passing from the supply pipe 3 to the container 1.

Any suitable means may be employed for opening the drain valve and the manually operated part may be located adjacent to and directly connected with the valve, as here shown, or it may be located at a remote point and indirectly connected with the valve. It is not essential that the motor, which controls the closing of the drain valve, shall be operated by the fluid discharged through the drain pipe but it may be of any suitable character so long as it will cause the closing of the valve at the proper time.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details thereof as various modifications may occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a water softening apparatus comprising a container for water softening material, a pipe for supplying hard water to said container, a service pipe and a drain pipe leading from said container, and a valve in said drain pipe, manually operated means to open said drain valve, a motor adapted to be set in operation'by the opening of said drain valve, means controlled by said motor to automatically close said drain valve after a predetermined interval, and means controlled by the opening and closing of said drain valveto supply regenerating solution and wash water to said container.

2. In a water softening apparatus comprising a container for water softening material, a pipe for supplying hard water to said container, a service pipe and a drain pipe leading from said container and a valve in said drain pipe, manually opcratcdmeans to automatically close said drain valve after a predetermined interval, means comprising a'valve for supplying regenerating solution to said container, and means controlled by the operation of said drain valve to actuate the last mentioned valve.

- 3. In' a Water softening apparatus comprising a container for Water softening material, a pipe for supplying .hard water to said container, a service pipe and a drain pipe leading from said container, and a valve in said drain pipe, manually operated means to open said drain valve, a motor operated-by the liquid discharged through said drain pipe, means controlled by said motor to antomatically close said drain valve after a predetermined interval, and means controlled by the opening and closing of said drain valve to supply regeneratingsolution and Wash water to said container.

4. In a Water softening apparatus comprising a container for water softening material, a pipe for supplying hardwater to said container, a service pipe anda drain pipe leading from said container, and a valve in said drain pipe, a spring to close saidvalve, manually operated means to open said valve, a device movable into and out of a position to retain said valve in its open position, a motor, a devicev actuated by said motor to move said retaining device to a position to release said drain valve after a predetermined interval, and means controlled bythe opening and 'closing of said drain valve to supply regen crating solution and wash water to said container.

5. In a water softening apparatus compris ing a container for water softening material. a pipe for supplying hard water to said container, a service pipe and a drain pipe'lead-. ing from said container, and a valve in said drain pipe, a spring to close said valve, manually operated means to open said valve, a

device movable into and out of a position to retain said valve in its open position, a device controlled by the liquid discharged through said drain piprfi move said retaining device to a position to releasesaid drain valve, and means controlled by the opening and closing of said drain valve to supply regenerating solution and wash water to said container.

6. In awater softening apparatus comprising a container for water softening material, a pipe for supplying hard water to said container, a service pipe and a drain pipe leading from said container and a valvein said drain pipe, a spring to close said valve, manually operated means ,to open said valve, :1 device movable into and out of a position to retain said valve in its open positlon, a cam for actuating said retaining device, a motor. means actuated by said motor for driving said cam at a reduced speed, and means controlled by the opening and closing of said drain valve to supply regenerating solution and wash Water to said container.

7. In "a water softening apparatus comprising a container for water softening material, a pipe for supplying hard water to said container, a service pipe and a drain pipe I leading from said container, and a valve in said drain pipe, a spring to close said valve,

manually operated means to open saidvalve, a device movable "into and out of a position to retain said'valve in its open position, al spring acting on said retaining device tocmove't-he same to its operative position when said drain valve has been opened, a cam acting on said retaining device to move the same to its inoperative position, a motor, a driving connecing a container for water softening material,

a pipe for supplying hard water to said container, a service pipe and a drain pipe leading from said container, and a valve in said drain pipe, a spring to close said valve, manually operated means to open said valve, a device movable into and out of a position to retain said valve in its open position, a' spring acting on said retaining device to move the same to its operative position when said drain valve has been opened, a cam acting on said retaining device to move the same to its inoperative position, a motor, a driving connection comprising a clutch for connecting said motor with said cam, a spring acting on said cam to return the same to its initial position, means controlled'by the closing of said valve to actuate said clutch and disconnect said cam from said motor, and means controlled bythe opening and closing of said drain valve to supply regenerating solution-and was h Water to said container.

9. In a, water softening apparatus comprising a container for water softening material, a pipe for supplying hard water to said contamer, a service pipe and a drainpipe leading from said containery and avalve in said drain pipe, manually operated means toopen I said drain valve, a brine tank connected with said container, a pipe to supply Water to said brine tank, a valve interposed in the last mentioned pipe and controlled by" the operation of said drain valve, a motor, and means controlled by said motor to close said drain valve after a predetermined interval.

10. In a Water softening apparatus comprising a container for Water softening material, a pipe for supplying hard water to.

said container, a service pipe and a drain pipe leading from said container, and a valve in said drain pipe, a brine tank connected I with said container, a pipeto supply water ers water to said receptacle,

to said brine tank, ja valve interposed in the last mentioned pipe, manually operated means for opening both of said valves, a motor, and means controlled by said motor to close both of said valves after a predetermined interval. J

In a water softening apparatus comprising a container for water softening material, a pipe for supplying hard Water to said container, a service pipe and a drain pipe leading from said container, and a valve in said drain pipe, a brine tank connected with said container, a pipe to supply water to said brine tank, a valve interposed in the last mentioned pipe, springs tending to move both of said valves to their closed positions,

and permit said valves to close junder the int fluence of said springs.

manually operated means for movingsaid valves to their open positions, detents to retain said valves in their open positions, a motor, and means controlled by said motor to move said detents to inoperative positions,

12. In a water softening apparatus comprising a container for water softening material, a pipe forsupp'lying hard water to said container, a service pipe and a drain pipe leading from said container, and a valve in said drain pipe, a brine tank connected with said container, a pipe to supply water to said brine tank, a valve interposed in the last mentioned pipe, springs tending to move both of said valves to their closed positions, manually operated. means for moving said receptacle and connected. with said injector.

15. In a water softening apparatus comprising a container, a pipe to supply hard 'water to said container, a service pipe and a drain pipe leading from said container, and a valve in said drain pipe, a receptacle to receive a quantity of salt, a pipe to deliver water to said receptacle, a valve in said delivery pipe controlled by the operation of said drain valve, an injector in said supply pipe, anda discharge pipe leading from said receptacle and connected with said injector, said discharge pipe being of greater capacity than the pipe which delivers water to said receptacle.

In testimony whereof, I 'alfix my signature hereto.

. CLARENCE B. YOUNT.

valves to their open positions, detents mov-v and a valve in said drain pipe, a receptacle 1 to receive a quantity of salt, a pipe to deliver water to said receptacle, an injector in said hard water supply pipe, and a discharge pipe leading from said' receptacle and connected with said injector, said discharge pipe having.

a greater capacity than the pipe which deliv- 14. In a water softening apparatus comprising a container, a pipe to supply hard water to said container, a service pipe and i a drain pipe'leading from said container, and

a valve in said drain pipe, a receptacle to receive a quantity of salt, a pipe to deliver water to said receptacle, a valve in said delivery pipe controlled by the operation of said drain valve, an injector pipe,iand a. discharge pipe leading from said In said supply nee - Ill 

